GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX IN CHILDREN

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a common disorder in infants and chil dren with a high rate of spontaneous resolution. Some children, howeve r, will continue to have problems and progress from functional GER to pathogenic GER. In children with functional GER, diagnostic testing an d pharmacologic treatment is unneccssary. In more involved casts, ther e are a number of tests available that help to quantify and qualify th e extent of disease. Treatment begins with conservative measures and p rogresses to acid neutralization/supression and medications to enhance motility. Should medical management fail to control the consequences of reflux disease, surgical intervention is warranted.